Guest Post: Zip for Kids in Moldova
We are happy to have Rachel Trammell share about her recent trip to Moldova with Justice and Mercy International.
Be honest: if someone challenged you to locate the country of Moldova on a map, would you even know what hemisphere to start in? Most of us wouldn’t. Moldova is located in eastern Europe, and is the poorest and smallest country of the former Soviet Union. This past June, I spent a week in Moldova, but 3 months ago, I couldn’t have told you what continent it was on, much less find the tiny nation on a map.
In addition to the widespread poverty that marks the country, Moldova is also considered ground zero for all human trafficking in Eastern Europe. Currently, Moldova finds itself affected by the civil unrest and political turmoil that is taking place in neighboring Ukraine. Needless to say, Moldova is a place that yearns deeply for the life-giving hope of the Gospel.
In late June I, along with a team from Nashville, TN, took off to spend the week in Risipeni Village, a rural community in western Moldova. Risipeni is settled in beautiful rolling countryside — a common sight in Moldova. A lush garden can be found in nearly every backyard, meaning that delicious fresh tomatoes are a part of many Moldovan meals. Moldovans depend on the land for sustenance, and they are a hardworking, determined people.
Our task for the week in Risipeni was to conduct a kids camp to which all children in the village were invited. This meant that we had little to no idea how many kids might show up. Since most of us were simply hoping that someone, anyone would come, it is safe to say we were all a little surprised when our bus pulled up to over 100 kids waiting for us on the first morning of camp. The good news was that we were prepared! Well, as prepared as you can be when you’re facing 100+ kids who speak a vastly different language from your own. With our ZIP curriculum, a suitcase full of craft materials, and some recreation equipment in tow, camp began.
Our team leader had supplied us with the ZIP material ahead of time, meaning we had everything we needed to study and adjust the material to our particular setting, age group, and time frame. Obviously, our environment for camp was different than the typical VBS or day camp setting; we had limited resources, an unknown group size, and major language and cultural barriers to overcome. Yet, ZIP made it easy to adjust. Because of it’s customizable nature, we were able to pick and choose what activities worked for us, without minimizing the Gospel message that is the core of the ZIP curriculum. Guided by ZIP, we spent the week looking at the relationship between Peter and Jesus, challenging kids to see Jesus as a Savior who loves them deeply and who is worthy of our trust.
Though at the surface it seemed that I had nothing in common with a group of Romanian-speaking kids in rural Moldova, I was quickly reminded that our deepest need is the same: a desperation for the love and rescue of a Savior. It was an exciting and full week getting to speak truth into these young lives, many of whom who hadn’t heard the Good News of Jesus before. I am grateful for the ZIP curriculum that assisted us in carrying the message of the one true King to the nations.
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